Terri Green began practicing martial arts as a teenager in the 1970’s. She decided to forego the traditional, expected lessons of sewing and cooking in exchange for semi-contact street fighting and a well-earned black belt. Now that’s pretty groovy. Here’s the link: https://anchor.fm/andrea-harkins/episodes/Terri-Green—A-Groovy-Black-Belt-from-the-1970s-ejtrsq
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Here is some information about me getting my black belt in the 70’s. 😊
I was a teenager about 14 when I started. My parents actually signed my brother up for lessons to help toughen him up. After watching him take the classes I asked my parent if I could take the class and they thought it was a waste of time. So I had to convince them that I needed to be able to defend myself too and that it would be the best protection for me going to public school. I had come out of catholic school and was very protected there. I didn’t have any friends in public school at first and it seemed very different and overwhelming. So once I convinced my dad who believe that women should stay at home and be moms, was very doubtful that I should do this. Thankfully, my mom was all for it.
The funny thing is that my brother didn’t like it and I loved it.
I started beating the “MEN” up right and left. They were afraid to hurt me because the Martial Art that I learned was semi-contact and street fighting. I thought it was the best exercise you could get. Not only was it cardio, but I was in the best shape ever. I was up and then down on the floor and back up again. It kept me engaged because of the different techniques. I had several handwritten books which I wrote my lessons in every night. I would go about 3 times a week and practice at home.
Women were not the thing in those classes. So every time I worked out with a man, I had to prove myself and show that I was tough because I would have to literally beat them up to make them actually be “real” with me. I remember not being able to catch my breath because I was working so hard. But when you are the ONLY women in the class and you want that black belt, you work as hard as you need to. Actually, after my green belt, I was the only girl except the owners wife, who he made take the class because I was.
My brown belt, was so hard because my instructor wanted me to proof that I was really able to do this and not just giving it to me. So I had to attack 3 men from a chair sitting down. Fortunately, I did it right and the training we learned was not a nice martial art, but a hit them where it hurts. So it did.
I remember going into the nurses office at school and asking for an ice pack and a heating pad because I was so bruised up and I had cramps. I still laugh at that today because of the look on the nurses face and then the explanation why. I would always have bruises all over my body, especially my forearms because of the blocking and the semi-contact fighting. I love it.
We also learned weapons, like knives and chains, a little guns. I remember having to take the bus to class and I had a huge machete knife that I took on the bus. I don’t know why anyone would not sit next to me. Ha ha. But try and do that today and see what happens.
My black belt was 2 days. It included forms, techniques and weapons and was very hard. But I was ready and passed without a problem. I remember thinking that there was no better way to stay in shape than martial Ars. Overall, I was concisely in Kung Fu for 3+ years.
My dad never went to my classes only my mother and he asked me one time what I would do if he came at me with a knife “like this”… he ended up in the street on his back and I ran for this hills laughing my butt off.
My girlfriend in 9th grade thought that I was too little to hurt her and again asked me what I would do…. and she ended up getting her elbow hurt. But the good news is that she told everyone to not mess with me and I didn’t have to prove it to anyone else. Which I didn’t like doing because I was not use to holding back since I did the semi-contact.
I also had a bully grab my shirt with a skateboard in his hand and he actually wanted to hurt me and prove that I didn’t know what I was doing. He also ended up on the ground. I ran to safety because he was mad he didn’t win and show that girls just were not good at this.
-Terri Green
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